Bell tolls for church weddings

BRIDES-to-be need no longer issue the age-old cry of “Get me to the church on time”, as new laws mean they can wed in a castle, hotel or anywhere that can gain approval to hold the ceremony.

The laws came into effect yesterday allowing couples to marry in civil ceremonies in venues other than the church or registry office.

The main stipulation is that the location must be open to the public and must take place in a fixed structure — so the local beach, romantic wood or mountain top is out of the question unless it has a big enough building on it to accommodate the invited guests. The HSE will decide whether a venue is acceptable.